Lesson 4: Resolution of Team Divergence

Other Conflict and Disagreement Strategies

1. Have a cooling down time before responding to e-mails or other communications to avoid a hastily written, antagonistic response. If the communication is verbal ask for some time to consider options and withdraw from responding for a time before talking through the issue.

2. Listen for auditory clues or read between the lines to find out what the other person is really saying. If dealing with a different culture, you may wish to try and restate each other's positions to make certain that you see things from the other person's perspective.
3. Constantly and consistently ask for clarification and understanding. If needed use examples.
4. Give team members time to think through a response. Focus on what are the team goals and objectives and your desire to do the best job possible.
5. If you think what you may say might give offense, before stating your view indicate that you may not be saying it correctly and you do not wish to give offense, but want to try and clearly express yourself.
6. Develop and practice clear and concise writing skills. Ask others, not involved in the conflict, to read your response for clarity, conciseness and the absence of something that may cause offense.
7. Store all communications in a shared database so all can refer to them (or if a new member comes to the team he or she may gain a history of how the team works).
8. Work early in the team project to build relationships of trust and maintain those relationships.
9. Establish clear rules, goals and roles for team members and commit to those roles.
10. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and commit to not repeat it.
11. The more time spent resolving smaller disagreements and conflict now will prevent greater disagreements and conflicts later.
12. Remember that successful global, virtual teams are complex and more communication and interaction is needed to keep everyone up-to-date of decisions and what is happening.